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Arizona Downs Opens 32-Day Summer Racing Season

The sights, sounds and excitement of live horse racing are back at Arizona Downs.

The Prescott Valley track will host a full season of thoroughbred racing in a decade and the first racing of any kind in two years. Opening Day is Tuesday, with doors opening at 9 a.m. and the first of nine races set to begin at 2:30 p.m. MST. Every race will be simulcast, providing an opportunity to show off the beauty of Prescott Valley.

Parking and general admission are free, with track admission open to fans of all ages.

“We're excited to welcome fans back to the track and experience racing like we've never had here before,” general manager Mike Weiss said. “The community response to re-opening our doors has been overwhelming and we know it is going to be an unforgettable season at Arizona Downs.”

The track has partnered with the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association to develop the most attractive race program in track history. Live racing happens every Tuesday and Wednesday through September – 32 dates in all.

Families and horse lovers from across the Quad Cities will find a new management team, renovated facility and the biggest purses in track history drawing nearly 700 horses from Arizona and across the country, including New Mexico, California and Minnesota, among other states.

Arizona Downs is being managed this season by Peninsula Pacific Entertainment (P2E), a trailblazer in the gaming, racing and entertainment industry. Among the properties they own and operate is Colonial Downs, a Virginia thoroughbred track that had been shuttered for six years and now serves as a thriving, revenue-generating entertainment destination.

For more information, please visit www.arizonadowns.com.

The post Arizona Downs Opens 32-Day Summer Racing Season appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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After Hair Test Drug Discoveries, Only Three Runners Contest Quarter Horse Futurity At Sam Houston

Friday night's $731,650 finals of the Sam Houston Futurity for 2-year-old Quarter Horses saw its field of 10 reduced to just three runners following the revelation that the prohibited drugs clenbuterol or albuterol were detected in hair samples in six entrants and two other test samples were considered inconclusive.

Juan Diaz Jr. trained the top two finishers in the race, Bh Inxs and Hock It To You, while Roberto Madrigal trained the third-place finisher, Lucky Dice.

Officials at Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas, announced on Thursday, a day after the Paulick Report first reported the hair test findings, that the Futurity would be contested as a non-wagering event.

Apollitical Crystal, the fastest qualifier, was listed on the Equibase chart as a “trainer” scratch, while three other finalists trained by Adrian Huitron (El Gansito, Dr Toola and Coronas Candy Man) were listed as “veterinarian” scratches. The other “veterinarian” scratches were Mr de Capi (trained by Angel Sanchez), Hes Tempting Gl (Jose Garcia) and Dealalicious (Rodolfo Sanchez).

On Thursday, Sam Houston officials released the following statement:

The Texas Racing Commission (TxRC) performed two separate testing methods on the qualifiers for the Sam Houston Futurity.

· Post-race Blood and Urine samples on the qualifying nights (May 7 and May 8)

· Hair Test samples on May 15th

Throughout this time period, all qualifiers were required to remain on Sam Houston Race Park (SHRP) property until the conclusion of the finals. TxRC staff notified SHRP that all post-race samples were negative for the ten qualifying participants prior to entry day on May 21 for the Sam Houston Futurity Finals.

On Wednesday, May 26, TxRC staff informed Sam Houston Race Park of the following results from the hair testing performed on May 15:

· Six (6) positive results for either Clenbuterol and or Albuterol (both prohibited in Texas)

· Two (2) results were deemed inconclusive

· Two (2) results were negative

A second hair sample was taken on May 26 of those horses who tested positive or inconclusive.

Based on this information, and to protect the interest of the wagering public, Sam Houston Race Park will conduct the running of this race as a NON-WAGERING event and those Sam Houston Futurity participants will compete for purse money only.

Effective immediately and until further notice, Sam Houston Race Park will stop accepting future entries from those trainers whose horses tested positive. Entries have already been accepted through Thursday, June 3, 2021.

Sam Houston Race Park reserves the right to issue further disciplinary actions against the trainers of these horses, pending actions of the Texas Racing Commission, including the results of second hair test samples if applicable.

The post After Hair Test Drug Discoveries, Only Three Runners Contest Quarter Horse Futurity At Sam Houston appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Jockey Health Day At Delaware Park Focused On ‘Improving The Standard Of Care’

The Delaware Jockeys' Health and Welfare Fund held a jockey health day on Monday, May 24, in the Delaware Park jockeys' quarters. Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance (Premier PT) hosted the event. A team of four doctors and three athletic trainers offered their services for this event; Dr. Kelly Ryan, Dr. Brad Sandela, Dr. Talha Khan, Dr. Chelsea Backer, Athletic Trainers Mandy Minutola, Sam Cutrone and Paige Ezell. Just under 30 jockeys attended the event to undergo physical examinations, baseline concussion testing and onboarding onto the Headcheck Health management system

Premier PT, in partnership with Laurel Racecourse track physician Dr. Kelly Ryan of Medstar, has been utilizing HeadCheck, a web-based end-to-end solution to execute concussion protocols, mitigate risk and support recovery. HeadCheck gives participating racetracks the ability to instantly remove and return jockeys to riding by sharing possible injury alerts, baseline tests, physicals, medical clearances, jockey emergency contact information and other pertinent information. HeadCheck uses strict HIPAA compliance with multi-level access where private health information is only provided to medical personnel.

Mandy Minutola, Director of Athletic training for Premier Physical Therapy, stated: “The first Jockey Health Day at Delaware Park was a successful step towards improving the standard of care for jockeys in our area. The collaboration of our Athletic Trainers with local sports medicine physicians to put the health and safety of the jockey first and foremost was evident in this event and something we hope was abundantly evident to our jockeys & their families. Premier is honored to provide an Athletic Trainer on all race days and be able to improve the quality of life of the jockeys during and beyond their horse racing careers. Our ultimate goal is to spread this desire to improve care standards across the United States for ALL jockeys.”

Delaware Park has a licensed athletic trainer during live racing with a treatment room located in the jockeys' room. Sam Cutrone, the licensed athletic trainer for Premier PT who has been the onsite athletic trainer since the inception Premier PT program, stated: “Premier Physical Therapy and Sports Performance is thrilled to be working towards a standard of care for all jockeys and enjoys providing them with the preventative and diagnostic tools that have been long overlooked in the horse racing industry. We hope to improve the quality of life for jockeys both during and beyond their horse racing careers.”

Ed Stegemeier, Chairman of The Delaware Jockeys Health and Welfare Fund, stated: “The Delaware Jockeys Health and Benefit Board is delighted to work with Delaware Park and Premier Physical Therapy in providing services that will add another layer of protective health care for all Delaware jockeys.”

The 77-day Delaware Park meet opens on Wednesday, May 26th and concludes on Saturday, October 16th. Live racing will be conducted Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Thursdays will be added June 24th through September 30th. First-race daily post time is set for 1:15pm.

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Hall Of Fame Jockey Calvin Borel Arrested For Driving While Intoxicated In Hot Springs

Three-time Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel was arrested Wednesday night in Hot Springs, Ark., for driving while intoxicated, according to the Daily Racing Form.

The 54-year-old was booked early Wednesday evening and later released on a $1,000 bond.

This is Borel's second DWI incident in the past three years, having been charged for same in Southern Indiana in 2019. In Arkansas, reports DRF, “a second-offense DWI within five years of the first results in at least seven days or up to a year in jail, though a judge can waive jail time for 'good cause' and order community service instead.”

Ensconced in the Hall of Fame in 2013, Borel last rode at Churchill Downs on May 21, riding two trainees for his wife, Renay Borel. He won the third race aboard Jack Van Berg, and finished second in the sixth with Bebop Shoes. Thus far this year, Borel has ridden four winners from 31 starters, primarily at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.